Steven said that although the sharks are not an endangered species if it keeps happening 'there might be none left''.

Thai officials who looked into the case then defended the owner of the venue, formerly called 'The Den', which is currently closed while they look for a new tenant or buyer.

Saowapa Sawatpeera from the Institute of Marine Science said that no laws had been broken by keeping the sharks at the club and ''they are common and widely eaten''.

She said: "People trying to rescue them are violating the rights of the actual owners of the sharks. If a rescue was to be conducted, it has to be at the request of the bar owner, and not a third party such as the rescue centre.

''In some cases returning marine life to the open ocean will lead to an animal's death if the rescuers do not have proper knowledge.''

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